Struggling Eurozone members headed by Greece have triggered a worsening financial crisis in the sport’s key market. But Sir Frank Williams, who is understood to be negotiating with Middle Eastern sponsors, remains confident that formula one will still be able to rely on European money.

Formula one appears unlikely to tweak the current qualifying format despite concerns in 2011 about a flagging spectacle. Overall, the ‘knockout’ format has been popular in recent years, with fast drivers graduating from the Q1 segment to Q2, and then from Q2 to the decisive top-ten Q3 session.

Romain Grosjean has admitted he almost quit motor sport after his formula one career hit the rocks after just seven grands prix in 2009.

Among the victims of the ‘crashgate’ saga, the Frenchman had replaced sacked Nelson Piquet at Renault but then fell by the wayside as Flavio Briatore’s career foundered and the team moved into new hands.

Fabio Leimer claimed his maiden GP2 Feature Race win today at Yas Marina Circuit. The Swiss racer took a lights-to-flag victory with a dominant drive, and in spite of his closest rival Luiz Razia’s best efforts to try and reduce the gap, Leimer remained in perfect control of his Racing Engineering machine all race long and was never in danger. Jolyon Palmer in third pocketed his first GP2 podium finish.

Robert Wickens made his Formula One Grand Prix weekend debut on Friday, at the Yas Marina Circuit, as the Canadian participated in Friday morning’s free practice session with Marussia Virgin Racing ahead of Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Toronto racer ended his maiden F1 session just half a second off team-mate Timo Glock’s best time as he drove the team’s MVR-02 for the first time on the 5.55km circuit.